TY - JOUR T1 - Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Prevents Sudden Cardiac Death in Systemic Sclerosis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol DO - 10.3899/jrheum.100480 SP - jrheum.100480 AU - Pasquale Bernardo AU - Maria Letizia Conforti AU - Silvia Bellando-Randone AU - Paolo Pieragnoli AU - Jelena Blagojevic AU - Olga Kaloudi AU - Serena Guiducci AU - Francesco Porta AU - Luigi Padeletti AU - Gian Franco Gensini AU - Marco Matucci-Cerinic Y1 - 2011/06/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2011/05/30/jrheum.100480.abstract N2 - Objective Cardiac involvement means a poor prognosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Conduction defects and arrhythmias are frequent in patients with SSc, and may result in sudden cardiac death. We tested whether electrophysiologic studies and implantation of cardioverter defibrillators are recommended when ventricular arrhythmias are present. Methods A cardioverter defibrillator was implanted in 10 patients with SSc who had heart involvement. Results After 36 months, analysis of the device showed several episodes of ventricular tachycardia in 3 patients, which were promptly reverted by electrical shock delivery. Conclusion In patients with SSc who are affected by ventricular arrhythmias, the implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator may prevent sudden cardiac death. ER -